ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: This proceeding presents a multi-scale modelling strategy to estimate rail rolling contact fatigue. In order to represent the complexity of the physical behaviour observed, a four step modelling strategy is adopted. First the dynamics of the track/vehicle is computed thanks to the research multi-body code VOCO Ayasse and Pascal (1990). In this code, the shape of the contact and the distribution of the loads between the wheel and the rail are precisely modelled with the STRIPES algorithm Ayasse and Chollet (2005). The stress vector computed by this first modelling is projected on a finite element mesh of the rail. The asymptotic stresses in the rail are then computed with an stationary algorithm Dang Van and Maitournam (1993) developed in CAST3M Fichoux (1998). These stresses are post-treated by the Dang Van fatigue criteria Dang Van and Maitournam (2009). Finally the Miner linear cumulative rule is used to compute a global damage. This modelling strategy is used to analyse different conceptions, to study the effect of wear and to predict the damage on a particular line.
